Strength of Her Own

CHAPTER TWO

"Papa! Papa!" Charlie Citadel came bounding from the living room to the front door, just as soon as he heard his father passing through.

"It's good to see you, son. Did you have a good day at school?"

"It was alright, Papa. But guess what? I EARNED ANOTHER BADGE!" the little seven year old practically screeched.

"Well done, son. I expected nothing less. So, I take it the boy scouts did another fundraiser?"

"Well, no. We haven't done one since, well... a long time. But we went camping recently, remember?"

"Oh, yes, how could I forget?" Truthfully, thirty-six-year-old Leveren Citadel was a busy man. But he would always try his hardest to put his son, and only family, first.

"Oh, Papa, you did forget. And after you were so against me going in the first place." His son rolled his gray eyes.

Leveren chuckled. Though he was only just seven, Charles was quite intelligent despite his age. And though his father couldn't be any more proud, most times it came back to slap him across the face.

"Come now, let's see what Nancy left for dinner," he responded. Nancy was their caretaker, but she only stayed during the daytime, as she had a family of her own to look after. The elderly woman was very kind and had been over the years, even so far as becoming a mother figure for Leveren and a grandmother figure for Charlie.

Half an hour later, they were seated at the table in the dining room.

"Ooh, spaghetti and meatballs, my favorite!" Charlie squealed with excitement.

That woman spoils him far too much, Leveren thought to himself. As he looked upon his beloved one and only child, however, he amended that thought. But he deserves it.

***

Leveren was sorting through some mid-term exam papers in his home office four days later, when he heard the office door open then close. He looked up to see his son gazing up at him with a thoughtful, reminiscent expression on his face.

"Yes, Charlie, what is it, my boy?" He acknowledged his presence.

"Papa, did I ever tell you how the last fundraiser went?"

"Hm, now that you mention it, no, I don't think so. Why? Did something happen?"

"Well, I'm sure you know I had to work super hard, and it was pretty late when I finally finished. But, you know, it was the nicest lady ever who didn't look like she minded. Most people would have been real bothered... " his son replied reflectively.

"Well, now, son, that's very observant of you. And considerate of that lady-whoever she might be-to be so kind as to treat you favorably. Did she happen to buy anything?"

"Yes, Papa! TWO! TWO WHOLE MUFFINS!" Charlie marveled.

Leveren chuckled. He seemed to be doing a lot of that lately. "Really, now? That's very good. Now, son, if you don't mind, I have these papers to-"

"Yes, Papa! Good-bye!" Charlie shuffled his feet to the door.

Just as Leveren returned his attention to his papers, Charlie stuck his head back through the door. "Papa?"

Leveren willed himself to have patience. He was only seven, after all. "Yes, Charlie?"

"Do you think I'll ever see that lady again?" He appeared genuinely curious.

"I'm not sure, son. Perhaps you will." Leveren smiled at him. And with that conversation ended, he buckled down to tackle some Pre-Algebra. He certainly didn't envy his students.